The Dickinson press., 1887-12-31
A KANGAROO HUNT.
CONFLICT OF THE DOGS WITH A
SAVAGE "oLD MAN."

Uncertainties OF an Unknown Mount.i
Kangaro" Lcaping Eighteen Feet at
q Jump-Thc Finish.
BY the time had regulated my stirrurs,
looked into the curb chain, und taken that
last general survey which man usually does
before trusting himself to the vagaries of an
unknown mount, Cameron rode III, OH a
rakiSll chestnut, surrounded by his pack of
kangaroodogS These dogs. 10y the way, arc
Il cross between fox hound anl II stag
hound bitch, or vice versa, the former, how
ever, being the more generally sought after.
Glentworth had chosen Il quiet little mare,
who, To all appearances, had nothing to
recommend her but tho beauty OF her shoul-
der. and n certain look about her quarters
which meant jumping Wallcrton was vainy
end".vorng ut the same time to retain his
seat and to keep his long shank spurs away
from his horses ribs. The piebald gave one
or two smaller bucks, and then, gathering all
his force, lifted himself high i'll the air, all
four feet ut once, burst the sirihS, and us he
struck ground Wallcrton and the saddle gave
Il twist TO the left and came down with IL
crash. Tho horse, having accomplished his
intention, gave a grunt of satisfaction. and
With i'll concealed contempt for his proStratc
foe, lri>ulrly strullri uway toward the stables.
Wal!c;t"n slowly sat ul', with the saddle
still between his legs, and gnzd at his con
quercr; then with admirable self possession
he took his flask from ln saddle lag, uncork
ed it, toasted his picpall in due forn,, and
having replaced the flask, stood up with II
comparatively unrutllrd exterior.
put my hand on my tat's withcrs, and u
groom giving mo II knee, flung myself across
the pig skin; before, however, | had put my
feet into the irons, the brutc's head and fore
hand disappeared as if by magic. IIisq,ar-
tcrs struck me i'll the back, and l WAS hurled
into mid air, dropping with my usual luck
into the midst of the dogs, who showed an
evident desire TO give up q breakfast of
Kangaroo and pnrtake of the meal thus ur-
cXpcctcdly provided for them.
AT last we got started and had not ridden
more than two miles When we viewed three
Kangaroo one of which, by his immense size,
gave promis, of being an "old man."
Having held back for IL moment to let the
hounds get fairly away, We gave our eager
horses their heads and followed. On We
swept, through the clear light of the long
slEi'lowc,l dawn with the quarry and hounds
i'll view. just ahead was II heavy log fenre
which we ail cleared easy, my horse, how
ever, taking of ut such distance that
Thought we were on it. We landed though.
with lots To spare. This gave he confidence,
aud began I" work him tn the front; with
the music of the pack ringing, pccing, rising
i'll ecstasy, and the trees shooting backward
us if Oh wings; past Wallerton, Glel,worth
aud Cameron, over II flight of rails and into
an open where the hounds were tllmLliur
over tho two smaller Kangaroo Tie old man.
meanwhile, head erect, lcaping, bounding
away, covering ut least eighteen feet ut u
jump, wns gninfng n good lead. passed the
hounds ut full speed, with cheer, and they
leaving the dead, sprung on in clIuse of the
living, their throats wettccl with their Kill
md eager for the nohler game; so eager, i'll
deed, that they outstrippcd me, although my
horse was running ns if in finish A short
dstanc. ahead saw the dark line of a dried
water course. AT this the old man went, and
with a gigantic bound cleared it and lenpel
OH unlalinted. Az it went the homis-somo
over, some in and out. AS my turn came
stra'iir,l my horse and sent him Mt it with n
shout; he rose clear, and i'll seconds flash
saw the rocky bottom far below me. We
struck with slid. in front, Il scramble liz
hind, md II stumbling recovery, hut safely
over, and rs l threw myself back in the
saddle | saw the old man standing high
against n gum tree, at bay, or, as the Aus
tlalians have it, stuck up"
sat down and set my horse going, con
graduating myself on being alone at the
death, when Glentworth shot past me will!
the immovuble seat that had ever character
nal Iu1 "A
billy i'll hand, made his way through the dogs
uml stood before tie Kangaroo. followed
lis example, and for the first time enjoyed n
struggle with II game old man Ii" stunI
with his back firmly pressed against the tree,
his head up and his eyes cleaning; he kept
his short l"rrlegs moving somewhat utter the
fashion of a nervous boxer, and us the bounds
pressed upon him he would strike with one of
his long hind legs Il blow so hard that the
hound ii reached ran u fair chance of never
arain responding to hi, huntlnuns call; for
that swift, clean reach would strike him in
the throat he rose To his leap, and TIN" sharp
claw, tearing. through rib aud sin"w, would
leave IL wound 50 deep and jagged as to he far
beyond the reach Of the primitive surgery at
hand.
During the time that Glcntworth nni lad
tll combat, and now Don Jupn, the pride Of
the pack, hn,, reached the l;nngaroo's throat,
ami unniniful Of the blow that partly dis.
cmlpwled him, refused to loosen his holl.
Srizing my opportunity, 1 ran in, and with a
fierce blow of my loaded club, or billy, de
liv"rcd ON the head of tho kangaroo,
dropped him, and the dogs finished him in
short order.
Cameron and Walcrton now rode up and
Cameron, disrnouttiug, looked to the woumlcI
DOGS, two Of which We're found to he be-
yond recovery. These We're mercifuily dis
patched, and he. taking Don Juan over his
saddle bow, whilst took the other, we
started toward home. The run had been OK.
ceptionaIly good, and the kill perfection, as
it is not often that hardened old ninm will
prove game when stuck up'-Hnlleit Alsop
Borrnwc i'll Outing.